Hairstyles For Work: 15 Easy Hairstyles For Hectic Mornings

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Before I became a mom, I spent a lot of time on my appearance each morning. I shampooed my hair and shaved my legs, I exfoliated my skin and lathered myself with various creams and serums, I applied a full face of makeup, I made sure my hair was silky, smooth, and shiny, and I agonized over my outfit choices.

It probably took a good 90+ minutes from the time I hopped out of bed until I grabbed my car keys and headed for the door every day (longer if I decided to eat breakfast), and while I wish I still had that kind of time on my hands, I would probably use it to something more worthwhile.

Like having a spur-of-the-moment dance party with my daughter, emptying the dishwasher, throwing in a load of laundry, or dropping off my husband’s dry-cleaning.

Now please don’t get me wrong.

It’s not that I don’t care about my appearance anymore.

Quite the contrary, actually.

Motherhood has just given me perspective, and in an effort to teach my daughter to love herself inside and out, I have learned to become more comfortable and confident in my own skin. And while I still take the time to make myself look presentable each morning, I no longer obsess about looking PERFECT, and have come up with some brilliant ways to cut corners and save time wherever possible.

Take this collection of easy hairstyles for hectic mornings for example.

In less than 10 minutes, I can fool the world into thinking I spend HOURS in front of the mirror each day, and since these hairstyles work best with second-day hair, they shave a good 30 minutes off of my morning routine.

Which is awesome.

Because the more efficient I am, the more time I have for those spur-of-the-moment dance parties with my little one.

And those simply cannot be missed.

From bun hairstyles and chic ponytails, to fishtail braids and a must-see express blowout, this collection of easy hairstyles for work make the perfect running late hairstyles for hectic mornings.

Mimi from Luxy Hair always shares great hairstyles, and these are no exception. They are simple and elegant, and take less than 5 minutes to do. I especially love the side bun hairstyle, and even though I have medium-length hair, my trusty hair donut gives the illusion that my hair is thicker than it really is. And the finished look is pretty fabulous!

If you like loose curls, but don’t have time to mess around with your curling wand each morning, this ponytail trick is for you! It’s the quickest way to get sexy waves, and works on both medium-length and long hair. I use Clear Elastic Ponytail Holders to tie my hair in a ponytail, and when I’m finished curling, I (carefully) cut the elastic with a pair of scissors. I find removing the ponytail holder properly ruins my curls, and since the plastic ones are dirt cheap, my scissor tip is a huge time-saver!

I like each of these looks, but the express blow-out technique has been the most helpful to me. I have never mastered the art of washing and drying my hair in a hurry, and while this is a more wind-blown, casual look, I love that the overall structure of the haircut remains intact, and it’s my go-to style when I am pressed for time but simply cannot skip the shampoo!

If you have a tendency to pull your hair back into a scrunchy halfway through the day, this collection of hairstyles is for you. With 7 different alternatives to the average ponytail to choose from, you can keep your hair out of your face and still look stylish enough for the office!

While I’m all about messy buns when I’m running late, I prefer something a bit more structured and chic for work settings. This 2-minute elegant bun hairstyle is so incredibly easy to pull off once you get the hang of it, and doubles as a fabulous ‘do for post-work drinks with the girls!

If you liked these easy hairstyles for work, please share them on Pinterest!

And if you’re looking for more ways to keep your locks looking stylish year-round, please follow our Hair board where we share all kinds of fabulous ideas!

Gwen is a 40-something freelance writer and social media consultant who has an unhealthy love for makeup, hair, and fashion. She lives with her husband and 8-year-old daughter in Toronto, Canada and hopes to move to a warmer climate someday. Preferably tomorrow.